Page 14 of The Truth of Us

I barked out a laugh. “That’s just his face.”

Her mouth twitched. “And Lucy Bennett?”

“Not here yet.”

“Hm.”

I looked down at her. “Hm?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“No, that was not nothing. That was a professional hm.”

“It means I’m observing,” she breathed.

“You’re irritatingly good at that.”

“I know.” She laughed.

Before I could respond, Lucy Bennett arrived. I watched Julian watch her, because frankly, it was more interesting than half of what was going on in the room. The man looked as if someone had thrown a brick through his emotional support window. Then he moved toward her and actually stumbled.

Beside me, Harper’s attention sharpened. “Interesting,” she murmured.

I leaned down so my lips brushed the hair tucked behind her ear. “That was another hmm without the hm.”

“That is a man who is not nearly as unaffected as he wants people to believe.”

“Welcome to Julian North.”

“No,” she said quietly. “That’s not Julian North. That’s the crack in his foundation.”

I looked at her then, really looked. Her eyes were on them, but not cruelly. Not with gossip or amusement. She was reading the room as if it were a language she had been born fluent in.

That should not have made my cock twitch. And yet.

“Remind me not to let you assess me too closely,” I said.

She glanced up at me. “Too late.”

Before I could respond, Theo appeared from somewhere with the timing that made me believe impending chaos had summoned him.

“There he is,” Theo said, grinning at me. “And you brought a stunning blonde. Are we going for the whole Barbie and Ken thing?”

Harper’s brows rose.

I gave him a look. “Harper Lane. Theo North.”

Theo caught her hand and bowed over it like an idiot prince in a fairy tale no one asked for. “A pleasure. You look like you were made to break men like my poor friend Elliot.”

Harper laughed, actually laughed, and I immediately decided I hated him.

“Theo,” I said.

“What?” he asked, eyes bright. “I’m being welcoming.”

“You’re being Theo.”

“Exactly.”